Travelling With Your Children To Africa

Travelling With Your Children To Africa

The thought of a holiday to Africa with your children may seem like a fairly daunting prospect, but in reality it makes a perfect family holiday destination. Here at Africa Travel we have come up with advice on great family holiday destinations in Africa, how to keep your children happy while flying, where to stay and how to keep them interested and engaged to ensure that you have the best possible experience.

Where to go?There are so many interesting and amazing places to visit in Africa, however not all of them make suitable holiday destinations for children. Here are just a few of our recommendations.

South Africa has something for everyone and makes an ideal holiday destination for families. It is probably the best place to go on safari if you have children, as the roads are excellent, which means you can rent a car and set your own pace and schedule, a must when you are travelling with children.

Kenya may not be the first place you think of when planning a family holiday, but this amazingly diverse country makes a perfect family holiday destination with its stunning coastline and abundant wildlife - think Big Seven not Big Five! Go to Kenya at the right time and you may be lucky enough to see the great migration, a million wildebeest making their journey to the Mara Mara.

Where to stay?Finding the right accommodation is essential, especially when you are travelling with children. Here are just a few of our recommendations of great family friendly places to stay in Africa.

Ants Nest and Ants Hill bush homes pride themselves on providing a safari experience that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Children of all ages are always welcome and both properties offer a wide variety of activities to suit all interests. Horse riding safaris are the most popular option, but don’t worry if your children have not ridden before, as pony walks and one-on-one lessons in the schooling arena ensure budding young riders gain enough confidence to ride out in the open savannah.

What better way to enjoy a safari with your family than by having your own African home? Staying in Mara House in the heart of the Maasai Mara conservancies takes this more intimate safari to the next level as there is no set schedule, which makes it an ideal choice for families. If you fancy a lie in and a leisurely breakfast or want to go out all day with a picnic lunch on the reserve, it's up to you.

How to keep them interested on safari?Worried your children will get bored on safari? Here are a few suggestions on how to keep them interested.

Give them their own camera

Award prizes for spotting wildlife

Give them an animal checklist to tick off

Book a lodge or camp that offers a wide variety of activities not just game drives

Getting thereSainsbury’s Bank have kindly created a short animated guide covering the main issues to consider when flying with children; from bag allowances and the age at which babies can fly, to hand luggage essentials and ways to keep your little ones comfortable and busy on the trip.